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Non-Routine Mean

&nit 8


Problem: The mean of 29 test scores is 77.8. What is the sum of
these test scores?

Solution: To find the mean of n numbers, we divide the sum of
the n numbers by n.


f we let n = 29, we can work backwards to find the sum of these test scores.


Multiplying the mean by the 29 we get: 77.8 x 29 = 2,256.2

Answer: The sum of these test scores is 2,256.2
n the problem above, we found the sum given the mean and the number of items in the data set (n).
t is also possible to find the number of items in the data set (n) given the mean and the sum of the
data. This is illustrated in Examples 1 and 2 below.

Example 1: The mean of a set of numbers is 54. The sum of the

numbers is 1,350. How many numbers are in the set?

Solution:

To find n, we need to divide 1,350 by 54.


Answer: n = 25, so there are 25 numbers in the set.

Example 2: The mean of a set of numbers is 0.39. The sum of the
numbers is 1.56. How many numbers are in the set?

Solution:

To find n, we need to divide 1.56 by 0.39.


However, we cannot divide by a decimal divisor. We will multiply both the
divisor and the dividend by 100 in order to get a whole number divisor.

Answer: n = 4, so there are 4 numbers in the set.

n the next few examples, we will be asked to find the missing number in the data set given the other
numbers in the data set and the mean. The words mean and average will be used interchangeably.
Example 3: Gini's test scores are 95, 82, 76, and 88. What score
must she get on the fifth test in order to achieve an
average of 84 on all five tests?


Solution: We are given four of the five test scores. The sum of
these 4 test scores is 341. f we let x represent the
fifth test score, then the expression 341 + x can
represent the sum of all five test scores.



f we multiply the divisor by the quotient, we get:
5 84 = 341 + x
420 = 341 + x
420 - 341 = x
x = 79

Answer: Gini needs a score of 79 on her fifth test in order to achieve an average of 84
on all 5 tests.

Example 4: The Lachance family must drive an
average of 250 miles per day to complete
their vacation on time. On the first five
days, they travel 220 miles, 300 miles,
210 miles, 275 miles and 240 miles. How
many miles must they travel on the sixth
day in order to finish their vacation on
time?

Solution: The sum of the first 5 days is 1,245 miles.
Let x represent the number of miles
traveled on the sixth day. We get:


f we multiply the divisor by the quotient, we get:
250 6 = 1,245 + x
1,500 = 1,245 + x
1,500 - 1,245 = x
x = 255
Answer: The Lachance family must drive 255 miles on the sixth day in order to finish
their vacation on time.


Summary: To find the mean of n numbers, we divide the sum of the n numbers by n.


n this lesson, we learned how to solve non-routine problems involving the
mean of a set of data. We found the sum given the mean and the number of
items in the data set. We also found the number of items in the data set
given the mean and the sum of the data. Lastly, we found the missing
number in a set of data given the other numbers in the data set and the
mean.